contentious meeting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "contentious meeting" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a meeting characterized by disagreement or conflict among participants. For example, "The board held a contentious meeting to discuss the proposed budget cuts." Alternative expressions include "disputatious meeting," "controversial meeting," and "heated meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In 1963, I had a contentious meeting with Robert Kennedy.

The Guardian - Opinion

It has been nearly two years since that contentious meeting.

The New York Times - Health

After a contentious meeting of the club's members, the Grolier Club concluded the sale in 2006.

The New York Times

Recently she attended a contentious meeting about overcrowded public schools in her Upper East Side neighborhood.

The New York Times

At a contentious meeting to announce the coaching change, Manning said, "They wanted to barbecue me".

The New York Times - Sports

Paulson made those points Wednesday at a contentious meeting with House Republicans.

The Washington Post

The next week, before the season opener, he had a contentious meeting with reporters when asked about being a backup.

The New York Times - Sports

During a contentious meeting in Schrader's suite at the Chateau Marmont, Scotty laid out his main grievances with "Auto Focus".

The New York Times - Magazine

Mr. Reid's remarks came after a contentious meeting earlier in the day among Democratic members of the Finance Committee.

The New York Times

Juliette Turner, an 18-year-old student and author from north Texas, stumped for Trump at the contentious meeting.

The Guardian

Suppose you are preparing for a potentially contentious meeting with someone with whom you've worked closely for years.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "contentious meeting" when you want to convey that the disagreement was expressed actively, and was not just a silent disagreement.

Common error

Avoid labeling every disagreement as a "contentious meeting". Reserve this term for situations where the conflict is significant and affects the overall tone and outcome.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "contentious meeting" functions as a noun phrase, where "contentious" serves as an adjective modifying the noun "meeting". It describes the nature or quality of the meeting, indicating that it was marked by disagreement or argument. Ludwig provides examples from numerous sources confirming this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Formal & Business

1%

Wiki

1%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "contentious meeting" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to describe a meeting characterized by disagreement or conflict. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage across diverse contexts, predominantly in News & Media. When using the phrase, ensure it accurately reflects the nature of the meeting and provide context to enhance understanding. While "contentious meeting" is appropriate in many settings, consider alternatives like "heated meeting" or "difficult meeting" for nuanced descriptions. Be aware that overusing the word contentious without providing justification may diminish the impact of your writing. According to Ludwig, "contentious meeting" is a common phrase that can be found in authoritative sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Heated meeting

Emphasizes the intensity of emotions and arguments during the meeting.

Argumentative meeting

Highlights the presence of arguments and conflicting viewpoints.

Disputed meeting

Focuses on the presence of disagreements and contested points.

Difficult meeting

Indicates that the meeting was challenging and potentially unproductive.

Discordant meeting

Stresses the lack of harmony and agreement among participants.

Confrontational meeting

Suggests a direct and often aggressive exchange of opposing viewpoints.

Tense meeting

Highlights the atmosphere of stress and unease during the meeting.

Fractious meeting

Implies a breakdown in relationships and cooperation among participants.

Acrimonious meeting

Emphasizes the bitterness and resentment expressed during the meeting.

Polarizing meeting

Suggests that the meeting intensified divisions and reinforced opposing viewpoints.

FAQs

How to use "contentious meeting" in a sentence?

You can use "contentious meeting" to describe a meeting filled with disagreement and argument, for example: "The proposal led to a "contentious meeting" among the board members".

What can I say instead of "contentious meeting"?

You can use alternatives such as "heated meeting", "argumentative meeting", or "difficult meeting" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "contentious meeting" or "contentions meeting"?

"Contentious meeting" is the correct term. "Contentious" is the adjective describing the meeting. "Contentions" is not grammatically correct in this context.

What's the difference between "contentious meeting" and "difficult meeting"?

While both terms describe challenging meetings, ""contentious meeting"" specifically implies active disagreement and argument, whereas "difficult meeting" is more general and could refer to challenges unrelated to interpersonal conflict.